4 Cascades at 6 weeks:

Strung trellis and my lead hop...

Here's my Cascades as of the May 18th. They are only fed rain water and horse poop.

The Nugget plants are new this year and have only grown about 8" up the twine so far.

Update:

Showing Conage!

I think my hop growing season is already over. I planted 2 plants on the 13th of april. 1 cascade and 1 zeus. the cascade popped up around the 5th or so of may for about 2 days. It got 2 leaves and then died. No sign of anything since:(

Hop Update:

Pictures taken today, 6.2

Oh hell yeah, hal! Those look like they're getting pretty close.

Mine are growing like fire, and they all have little furry burr-looking things that I assume will grow into hop cones.

Whats the story with harvest? I heard somewhere that when they get to be sort of papery and light and springy feeling, its time to pick. Does that sound right?

After that, for drying, I see a lot of people using a wooden frame with screen on it. How about a dehydrator? And after they're dry, then what? Vacuum bags? zip locks? freezer or fridge or just a closet?

The summer heat is kicking in here in Louisiana. I hope my vines don't just wither away.
- TP

I harvest when they are papery, light and just a bit of tan on the edges of the cones.

I dry them by spreading them out on a screen door elevated in my garage.

I was also wondering what would happen if I cut them off at the ground to harvest, would they grow again this year??

Prost